Charles F Bremigan

US Patent:

20020149570, Oct 17, 2002

Filed:

Nov 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/998220

Inventors:

Terence Knowles - Barrington IL, US
Charles Bremigan - Jarrell TX, US

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

345/173000

Abstract:

An acoustic wave switch includes a substrate with an acoustic wave cavity formed therein such that the mass per unit area of the acoustic cavity is greater than the mass per unit area of the substrate adjacent the cavity. A transducer is mounted on the acoustic cavity for generating an acoustic wave that is substantially trapped in the cavity. A touch on the touch surface of the acoustic wave cavity absorbs acoustic wave energy and produces a detectable change in the impedance of the transducer. Various feedback mechanisms can be employed to provide a user with a tactile, audible and/or visual response indicating actuation of the switch by a touch.

US Patent:

20040227740, Nov 18, 2004

Filed:

May 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/435853

Inventors:

Terence Knowles - Barrington IL, US
Charles Bremigan - Jarrell TX, US

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

345/177000

Abstract:

An individual acoustic wave switch includes a body with a top section having an acoustic wave cavity formed therein and a base section extending downwardly from the top section. An acoustic wave transducer is mounted adjacent to a surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface thereof so as to generate an acoustic wave in the acoustic wave cavity and to pick up a signal representing the acoustic wave energy in the cavity. The acoustic wave switch is readily mounted in an aperture of a substrate through which the base of the switch extends.

US Patent:

20040246239, Dec 9, 2004

Filed:

Jun 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/454003

Inventors:

Terence Knowles - Barrington IL, US
Wayne Wehrer - Austin TX, US
Chris Kalmus - LaGrange IL, US
Charles Bremigan - Jarrell TX, US

International Classification:

G09G005/00
G06K011/14

US Classification:

345/177000, 345/173000, 178/018040

Abstract:

A circuit for an acoustic wave switch or sensor having a resonant acoustic wave cavity detects a touch or sensed event using a time domain approach. The circuit includes a controller that drives an acoustic wave transducer to generate a resonant acoustic wave in the acoustic wave cavity during a first portion of a sampling cycle. In a second portion of the sampling cycle, the controller monitors the time that it takes for the acoustic wave signal from the transducer to decay to a predetermined level. Based on the decay time, the controller detects a sensed event, such as a touch on the acoustic wave switch/sensor.

US Patent:

20060012583, Jan 19, 2006

Filed:

Jul 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/187446

Inventors:

Terence Knowles - Barrington IL, US
Wayne Wehrer - Austin TX, US
Charles Bremigan - Jarrell TX, US

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345177000

Abstract:

Certain embodiments provide an acoustic wave touch bar system and method of use. Certain embodiments include a bar having two portions of reduced cross-section forming an acoustic cavity in the portion of the bar between the reduced cross-sections. The system includes an acoustic wave transducer positioned on the acoustic wave cavity, wherein the transducer generates an acoustic standing wave that is substantially trapped in the acoustic cavity. The system also includes a circuit coupled to the transducer and responsive to a change in an output of the transducer to detect a touch on a touch surface of the bar. The circuit may be a programmable and/or adaptive circuit, for example. The circuit may detect a change in an exponentially decaying response of the transducer indicating that the touch surface of the bar has been touched.

US Patent:

20070261895, Nov 15, 2007

Filed:

Jul 23, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/781808

Inventors:

Terence Knowles - Barrington IL, US
Wayne Wehrer - Austin TX, US
Chris Kalmus - LaGrange IL, US
Charles Bremigan - Jarrell TX, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/043

US Classification:

178018040

Abstract:

A circuit for an acoustic wave switch or sensor having a resonant acoustic wave cavity detects a touch or sensed event using a time domain approach. The circuit includes a controller that drives an acoustic wave transducer to generate a resonant acoustic wave in the acoustic wave cavity during a first portion of a sampling cycle. In a second portion of the sampling cycle, the controller monitors the time that it takes for the acoustic wave signal from the transducer to decay to a predetermined level. Based on the decay time, the controller detects a sensed event, such as a touch on the acoustic wave switch/sensor.

US Patent:

20080198145, Aug 21, 2008

Filed:

Nov 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/946251

Inventors:

Terrence J. Knowles - Barrington IL, US
Charles F. Bremigan - Jarrell TX, US
Wayne J. Wehrer - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/043

US Classification:

345177

Abstract:

A touch pad assembly includes a substrate and a plurality of acoustic wave switches positioned with respect to the substrate. Each of the plurality of acoustic wave switches includes a touch surface connected to an acoustic wave cavity and a transducer secured to the acoustic wave cavity. The plurality of acoustic wave switches are positioned to provide detection of sliding motion direction and rate between the plurality of acoustic wave switches.

US Patent:

56486430, Jul 15, 1997

Filed:

Jun 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/491306

Inventors:

Terence J. Knowles - Hanover Park IL
Charles F. Bremigan - Jarrell TX

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 19

Abstract:

An acoustic wave touch panel comprising a substrate formed of a first material. The substrate is capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein. A reflective array upon the substrate is provided for reflecting an acoustic wave to propagate in the substrate. The reflective array is formed in the substrate. An inlay is formed of a second material. The inlay is disposed in the reflective array, wherein the acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in the second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of the acoustic wave in the first material.

US Patent:

58568204, Jan 5, 1999

Filed:

Mar 27, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/826207

Inventors:

David G. Weigers - Round Rock TX
Charles F. Bremigan - Jarrell TX

Assignee:

The Whitaker Corporation - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

G08C 2100
G09G 500

US Classification:

345177

Abstract:

A laminated acoustic wave touch panel is shown and a method of making the panel is described using an adhesive barrier material. The adhesive barrier material is positioned between a substrate in which a shear wave is to propagate and a backplate in order to form a cavity between the substrate and backplate. An adhesive is injected into the cavity to laminate the substrate to the back plate. The use of the barrier material allows the laminated touch panel to be easily manufactured and allows the adhesive to be constrained to a desired area of the panel. The invention envisions the use of similar and dissimilar materials for the substrate and backplate. The velocity of a shear wave at a given frequency is greater in the backplate than in the substrate in the case where the materials are dissimilar and equal for a given frequency when the materials are the same.